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Health is going to be a huge problem for this team. Old roster and early injuries.

The state of health concerns me a lot. They had three significant injuries during preason. DJ, (Eff the haters). He was coming on strong and was going to play an important role. A bigger loss than some fools realize. DJ to Pope is a downgrade and Will Johnson has ability and potential but does not seem completely ready. Although right now Ramon Foster might be DeCastro's equal, in due time, DeCastro was going to be really good and the OL depth becomes a problem. Other injuries will occur.

I liked Sean Spence, very instinctive. I like Slyvester less, he is injured also. Foote probably will struggle if he doesn't have good depth behind him. Harrison and Worilds are hampered by injury. Cris Carter better be the beast he is touted to be because they need him, but I'm reserving some judgement on him until he gets a few sacks in the games that count.

Injury to Redman. I like Dwyer but is he well-conditioned enough to carry the load? Mendenhall coming back from injury. I think they will be in trouble in the running game if Baron Batch becomes the lead back.

The Steelers really need to be lucky with injuries for the rest of the season.

as usual, in my mind it comes down to the O-line. If they are healthy and play smart consistent football this will be a successful season. The defense to me is a question mark - so we need an offense that controls the ball, clock and limits the time the defense is on the field. Of course, that's ALWAYS a key ingredient to success, but that's why I focus on the 5 up front. When they work well, the team wins. simple.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin high fives Troy Polamalu after dropping Rams running back Steven Jackson for a loss on third down at Heinz Field Dec. 24, 2011

Their season starts in Denver, but the Steelers’ best chance for a successful campaign begins, as always, in the brutal AFC North.

Not even the Cleveland Browns can ruin this division’s reputation. It’s the only one that has sent multiple teams to the playoffs each of the past four seasons, including three in 2011.

Bet on this: More than one will make it again. The Steelers, Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals all appear capable of winning 10 games or more.

“Baltimore will be at the top of the AFC, as they are year-in and year-out,” says Steelers safety Ryan Clark. “Cincinnati made a push, and I think they can become a team that advances in the playoffs.”

Tongue planted firmly in cheek, Clark added: “And the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to be the Pittsburgh Steelers — we’re going to be old and slow, and we’re going to try to figure out if we can make some plays.”

The division’s nature has changed since its inception in 2002 (a year the Browns actually made the playoffs, by the way, with an offensive coordinator named Bruce Arians).

It’s a pass-first division now, no different than the rest of the league.

Conventional wisdom might still peg the Ravens as “run-first” and the Steelers as “getting back to the run,” but let’s be serious. The Ravens passed the ball 54 percent of the time last season, and the arrow is pointing up: They unveiled a no-huddle attack this preseason.

The Steelers have a $102 million quarterback and one of the NFL’s best receiving corps. Think they’re gonna line up with a fullback every play?

Like everybody else, AFC North teams must answer two critical questions if they are serious about winning a Super Bowl: 1. Can we pass? 2. Can we stop the pass?

Ancient Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is a monument to the times: He has dropped 20 pounds in hopes of better defending the pass.

A look at the contenders …

STEELERS

• What we like best: Point potential from an offense that was the AFC’s youngest by the end of last season. … Ben Roethlisberger, who gives this team its best chance to win a seventh Super Bowl. … Youthful energy along the defensive line and proven star power in the back seven.

• Don’t like: Age and lack of depth looming in certain sectors of the defense (sorry, Ryan). … The fact that an offensive line that was supposed to be significantly upgraded really wasn’t.

• Breakout player: Ziggy Hood.

• Keeping an eye on: The budding relationship between Todd Haley and Roethlisberger. Over-under on first sideline blow-up: third quarter of Jets game, Week 2.

• Don’t like: Age and lack of depth looming in certain sectors of the defense (sound familiar?) … The fact that an offensive line that was supposed to be significantly upgraded really wasn’t (sound familiar?).

• Breakout player: Torrey Smith.

• Keeping an eye on: Terrell Suggs’ return from a torn Achilles. He vows to regain top form immediately. Seems unlikely.

Record: 11-5

BENGALS

• What we like: Dalton to Green. You’re going to be hearing that a lot. As Clark says, “Green is a superstar.” … A full offseason for coordinator Jay Gruden to implement his offense. … Disruptive defensive line, especially if Carlos Dunlap fulfills his potential.

• Don’t like: Pass defense questions — Leon Hall coming off Achilles injury, Nate Clements aging and safety Taylor Mays unproven. Outside the division, Bengals faced a bevy of bad quarterbacks last season. They don’t have that luxury this year. Will see plenty of good ones over the second half, including the Manning brothers back-to-back.

I take no pleasure in this, but remember when everyone said It was stupid to post this prior to the season?

I really hope I am wrong at this point, but 7-9 looks very realistic.

9-7 at worst and 11-5 at best; most likely 10-6. I really believe we will win 3 of the next 7 at least. Now that I'm recovering from the psychological trauma of Ben's injury I actually think Lefty will do a good enough job to get us the wins we need to get into the playoffs. Once there though I think we are one and done without Ben.